With the Seahawks’ 2022 season done, the team will now focus on which free agents to sign and who to take in the 2023 NFL draft. A lot of how Seattle’s draft shapes up might be predicated by what the team does in free agency, of course. By the time the draft takes place in April, whether Seattle has re-signed quarterback Geno Smith, for instance, will likely say if Seattle takes a quarterback in the first round.
But as we saw for most of the 2022 season, Seattle has issues that go well beyond quarterback. Geno Smith was actually really good for a lot of the season and Seattle likely does not go 9-8 and make the playoffs if not for the play of Smith. Seattle’s offense overall is pretty set, except for the interior of the offensive line and a third option at wide receiver.
Defensively is where Seattle struggled the most and has the fewest long-term fixes. There is a possibility that every inside linebacker spot could be upgraded. Even at outside LB, Seattle needs better players. The interior of the defensive line went from good in 2021 to bad in 2022. At least two-fifths of the secondary could be better.
Seahawks retool the defense in this 2023 NFL mock draft
Even if Seattle had a lesser quarterback than Smith on the team (again, assuming Smith is re-signed or franchise-tagged), it might be wise to draft high-quality players at other positions to make the team better for the foreseeable future. The Seahawks aren’t a bad team but unless they add a few impact players in the draft, they could be only slightly better than mediocre for years. That’s not a good place to be.
For this last reason, I don’t have Seattle taking a quarterback in this mock draft. As in previous mock drafts, I used Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator. I like it because it offers trades but this time I just couldn’t accept any because the players available are ones the Seahawks needed. Here is what happened in the latest mock for the 2023 draft.
Seahawks 2023 mock draft: First round
I am not completely sure Anderson is actually available at pick number 5 overall, but he was in Pro Football Network’s simulator so I had to take him. There was a chance to trade back with the Raiders from 5 to 7 and add extra picks, but passing up Anderson would have seemed insane. Anderson is strength and speed personified and is excellent against both the pass and run.
Anderson’s sack total “fell” to 10 sacks in 2022 from 17.5 in 2021 but he faced a whole lot more double-teams and still produced at a high level. He also had “just” 17 tackles for loss versus 31 in 2021, but let’s be real. His 2021 numbers are ridiculous while his 2022 numbers are still very good. Anderson will be a fantastic pro.
After getting great help with the pass rush by taking Anderson, the Seahawks should try to help fix the interior of the defensive line. Bresee (who always seems to end up with the Seahawks in the mock drafts I do) can gain some weight (he is currently 300 pounds), most of that being muscle, and still be as athletic. He is 6’5″ and has a stout frame on which to add weight.
Bresee should be able to consistently provide some interior push when a team throws but is strong enough already to help eat blockers and help slow an opposing team’s run game. Bresee had an ACL injury in 2021 but appears fully recovered now and played in 9 games for Clemson this season.
Seahawks 2023 mock draft: Second and third rounds
Anudike-Uzomah is still just 21 years old and is a bit raw in technique. That isn’t a diss towards his college coaching staff but more about Anudike-Uzomah’s age. But him being 21 is a good thing. Any NFL team, hopefully the Seahawks, will add him and then teach him how to be a pro. Anudike-Uzomah might be used more in his rookie season in obvious pass-rushing downs but he is capable of helping in run support as well.
Anudike-Uzomah never quits on plays and plays with excellent ferocity. He wants to beat his man and many times does. He had 8.5 sacks in 2022 after having 11i n 2021and tackles for loss went from 14.5 to 11, but this is mostly because he saw a lot more double-teams this year.
Hyatt should make for a good third option at wide receiver behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Hyatt has good speed and decent size at 6 feet tall. He probably does need to add some weight because he is a bit thin and weighs 180 pounds. Still, he has NFL-caliber hands and good quickness.
The biggest concern with Hyatt is whether he is truly very good or more a product of Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s system. In his first season in Heupel’s system, Hyatt had just 21 catches and 226 yards for 2 touchdowns. In 2022, Hyatt exploded for 67 catches, 1,267 yards, and 15 touchdowns. How he translates his game, and how quickly he does so, to the NFL is anyone’s guess.
Seattle needs to find interior defensive tackles who can stuff the run. Poona Ford is a free agent and wasn’t very good overall in 2022. Al Woods was solid but is also 35 years old. Adding Bresee in the first round would be a solid start but Young could instantly replace Ford.
Young is already NFL-strong and was well-coached at Alabama. He will be able to eat up blockers but his athletic enough to break through and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks at times. Adding Bresee and Young in this draft would be a huge win.
Seahawks 2023 mock draft: Fourth through sixth rounds
Seattle is set at offensive tackle for years to come with Abe Lucas and Charles Cross. What needs to be fixed is at least one guard spot and at center. Austin Blythe was signed to a one-year deal for this year in Seattle. Blythe knew Shane Waldron’s offense after playing under Waldron with the Rams, but Blythe wasn’t very good this year. Seattle needs a bit of a mauler at center and that is what Gall is. He also plays with a bit of a nasty streak that Seattle needs.
Ngassam Nya is another guy who plays with a bit of a mean streak. He is solid in run and pass protection but he probably needs a year in an NFL weight training program to strength his legs, and therefore his base, before playing a bunch of snaps in the league. He does have a ton of experience in college, though, and that will help him learn more quickly in the NFL.
While the Seahawks probably need to find a linebacker or two this offseason, Williams isn’t likely the guy who comes in out of the draft and plays a bunch of snaps. He is 6’1″ and 230 pounds and has decent quickness and decent coverage skills, but he needs to add strength. He will likely add immediate high-impact skill on special teams, however.
If Deuce Vaughn were four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, he’d be a high second-round pick. His skill is without question as he has quickness and speed. In fact, he is likely faster than many NFL players.
But Vaughn is just 5’6″ and 170 pounds so his ability to take the punishment that the NFL dishes out is his biggest question mark entering the draft. He probably can be taught to return punts, though, and his speed can cause issues. He just needs to get with an NFL team that is creative enough to use his immense skill.